HOUSTON — The Rams came out of their victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday with no gaping holes to fill before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday at 1 p.m. L.A. time.
They could improve depth at positions softened by injuries (tight end, edge linebacker, the secondary) and clouded by durability issues (running back), and face replacing DeSean Jackson if the wide receiver gets his desired trade or is released.
Coach Sean McVay said immediately after the game that nothing was happening yet with Jackson, whom the team is allowing to seek a move after his playing time shrank, but indicated general manager Les Snead has had “some dialogue with some teams.”
McVay didn’t discuss specific needs.
“We’re always going to look into different avenues and ways we can potentially improve the roster,” McVay said. “Whether that’s out there, based on the landscape of the rest of the league, is something that we’ll kind of put our heads together and figure out over the next 24 hours.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who arrived in the trade for Jared Goff last winter, said he’s OK with the Rams making a deadline deal or not.
“I’ve been a part of it both ways, buyers and sellers — and a whole lot of nothin’,” Stafford said of his 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions. “The NFL trade deadline’s a little different than other sports. There’s a whole scheme you’ve got to go in there and learn and do all that kind of stuff. You can’t just plug a guy in and let him play shortstop and see fastball, hit fastball.
“I know we’ve got a great group of guys in that locker room right now. If we end up getting somebody, whoever comes in will be pleasantly surprised by a bunch of guys that really work hard and are about playing football the right way. And if we ride with who we’ve got, I love it.”
BAD BEAT DEPARTMENT
McVay was asked if he’s aware of point spreads before games.
“I would say sometimes I know about it, but, uh — what was it today?” the coach said.
“Sixteen and a half,” a reporter said.
“Vegas is good,” McVay said.
But what does Vegas think of McVay, at least people there who bet on the Rams and laid 16-1/2? The Rams led 38-0 before pulling most of their starters in the fourth quarter. The Texans scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion to make it a 38-22 final score.
NEXT
The Rams (7-1) face a team with a winning record for the first time in more than a month when they host the Tennessee Titans (6-2) at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night (5:20 p.m.).
The Rams’ last game against someone with a better-than-.500 record — then or now — was their loss to the Arizona Cardinals (7-1) on Oct. 3.
The Titans pose a challenge for the Rams’ defense in the person of 2020 AFC Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry, who was rushing for a league-high 124.1 yards a game and 10 touchdowns going into Week 8.
“Big challenge ahead of us next week,” Stafford said.
PRIZE PIGSKIN
Ernest Jones was awarded a game ball after the rookie linebacker intercepted a pass and had a strong game overall in his first start for the Rams.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting that,” Jones said of the game ball.
He said he’ll have it framed.
EARLY TO RISE
The Rams are 3-0 this season and 11-3 under McVay in games like Sunday’s that started at 10 a.m. Pacific time (not including wins in 2018 and 2019 played at that time in London).
“I feel like we just don’t worry about it,” defensive tackle Greg Gaines said after a game that kicked off at noon Texas time. “I kind of prefer these kind of games. You just wake up and play football. There’s no sitting in the hotel room, thinking too much.
“I prefer it, actually.”